The tension between the Republican establishment and the Tea Party insurgents erupted on the House floor for the first time Wednesday when 110 GOP representatives — mostly freshmen and some longtime conservative gadflies — broke from their leadership and most of their caucus in order to kill a defense contract. The vote highlighted an establishment-versus-Tea Party split that was glaring during the campaign season, and brought to the fore the uncomfortable question of defense spending. The amendment, killing the contract for a backup engine for the F-35 fighter, passed 233-198 Wednesday.

Libertarian-leaning Rep. Ron Paul, a hero in large corners of the GOP base, put it well at last week’s Conservative Political Action Committee: « Military spending and defense spending are not the same thing. » Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., proposed three amendments Tuesday to cut military spending that he said had no relation to defense.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., whose conservative credentials are not in question, is on board with Paul and Flake in trying to trim military fat. He’s advocated ending the National Guard’s involvement in local anti-drug enforcement.